Working for Malfoy

Chapter 24: Caring

I woke up to find my left forearm was bandaged. I noticed that I was at St Mungos.

I sat up as much as I could without straining my arm too much. I stopped immediately when I saw a head of blonde resting on the left side of my bed.

'Oh no.' I thought to myself. 'Now he is going to think this is all his fault.' With a sigh I picked up the book that someone had left on the table by my bed and began reading.

After a page or two I slowly moved my arm to stroke the hairs that barely touched Draco's neck. Smiling slightly I began reading again.

A few minutes later I felt Draco move. He raises his hand slowly and grabs mine. He then jerks up and looks at me. He lets go of my hand and rubs his face with both of his.

After a moment's silence, he talks. "Why did you do it?" He asked.

"I thought everything would be better. The pain would end and your life would be easier without having to heal me every other day. You could go back to your own life and not worry about me." I said.

"Hermione, I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have to help you with your wounds every other day."

I don't answer.

"It's not over yet Hermione. It won't be over until freedom is won back for all the muggle borns and blood traitors. I'm not going to lie, I thought I was going to lose you last night. I was afraid that I was going to wake up and you were going to be gone. You have no idea how many times I have wanted to take my own life but then I see you and realize that there is still a hope for me here. You are my hope and the reason why I keep pushing through all the pain. I wanted to leave because I didn't think I would be able to live through another day. But you gave me the hope to do that." He says. "Why do you want to leave?" His voice cracks slightly as he holds back tears.

"I was wanting away from it all. I was thinking that everyone would be happier and better off without me, but when I woke up and realized that someone went out of their way to bring me to the hospital and get help, I knew that I was wanted somewhere. I am more than you think I am and I am not going to let a few words tear me down anymore and cause me to take the cowards way out because that is not who I am. I am stronger than that and I am going to prove it." I answer.

"Yes you are, and that is what I love about you. I love that you are still fighting when a lot of people in the situation you are in would have given up already. I love that you don't care what others think about you. I love that you would stand up and forgive me for all that I have done to you. I love you." Draco stated.

I didn't answer. After a few seconds of silence there was a knock and Draco's sister appeared in the doorway. "Draco, Blaise is here." She said.

"They can come in." Draco said.

Aviana moved out of the way so Ginny and Blaise could come in. Ginny's hands automatically flew to her mouth.

"What happend?" She asked.

I looked away without answering. I couldn't even look my friend in the eye because I was so ashamed about what I have done.

Draco stood up and approached Ginny and Blaise. "Can I talk to you outside? Both of you?" He asked them. A few seconds later I heard the sound of footsteps and the door closing.

"They're gone." I heard Aviana say.

I nodded in response before looking towards the door and sighing.

"You didn't want them to leave did you?" She asked.

"It's not that, I mean it is that but it's not what's bothering me the most right now." I say.

She walks over to the bed and sits down on the edge. "You don't have to answer, but what is bothering you?"

"It's the fact that you just got here, and the first thing you probably thought of me is that I am suicidal and take things too seriously, or that I am some sort of over sensitive, stupid, naive teenager that thinks everything should go her way." I say.

She gapes at me. "No. You have it all wrong. I never thought any of those things. When I found out that you were at Alcatraz, the first thing I thought was that you have been through so much. I know that can't be a pleasant place to stay at, so I tried my hardest not to say anything that would hurt you."

"I'm not weak." I start.

"I know you aren't. I just wanted to be careful because I have met someone that was at Alcatraz. She was taken out of there by one of my friends from America. We were talking one day and I said something that triggered her. She just froze. The next thing I knew, she was writhing around on the floor like she was being tortured all over again. I didn't know what to do, so I ran out of the room to grab my friend to help calm her down. That is why I was careful about what I said around you. Not because I found you weak, but because I didn't want to set someone else off." She tells me.

I manage a small smile before it faded away. "I'm sorry for snapping at you in the garden. I really didn't mean to, I just couldn't control it."

"Hey, it's ok. I wasn't mad, it just caught me off gaurd is all." She smiled.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I am. I wouldn't lie to you."

I smile back at her and pull her into a hug. She returns it after a second and squeezed me slightly before pulling back.

"Can I ask you something?" She asked.

"Ask away." I reply with a shrug.

"Do you like my brother." She blurts out.

I'm stunned. "What?"

"Do you like my brother?" She asks again, this time slower.

I lean back against the pillow. "Would you hurt me if I said I didn't?"

She chuckles. "No, but I would be slightly disappointed."

"Malfoy's are never slightly disappointed. They are either about to murder someone, or they are spouting off sarcastic comments. There is no in between." I say.

"That is true. Now back to my brother." She states.

I sigh. "I feel safe when I am around him. Whenever he wraps his arms around me I feel like nothing can hurt me. He makes me feel as though I am enough and that I don't need to change in order for someone to love me. There is just something about him that I can't put a finger on. Besides his looks and personality, there is something that draws me to him."

She smiles before turning her expression into a more serious one. "I am just going to say one thing. Once you pull him in and he admits that he loves you and will go to any length to protect you, don't break his heart. I know he wasn't the best person when we were little, but when he falls for someone, he won't stop falling until you catch him. I know that sounds cliche, but it's true. All Malfoy's are like that under the cold persona we give off. Many people will take one look at us and walk away like we are going to harm them. But when someone takes the time to get to know us, we will never forget them because we know that there is someone out there that will love us for who we are and not for our money and fame. My brother is probably the best person I know that can hide his true feelings, but I know that he feels something for you because his eyes light up when you are mentioned. So, please don't hurt him. He has been through so much pain that I'm afraid that one more hit, he is going to break. He will go into this shell of depression and anger that no one will be able to bring him out of but you. Love him like he is yours. He will love you back. I know he will."

"I won't hurt him. I promise." I smile at her.

She smiles back and pulls me into another hug.

I gasp in pain once her arms wrap around me causing her to jump back. "Are you ok?"

"It's my stomach." I say before leaning forward so my head is almost touching me knees, my arms wrap around my stomach.

When I sit back up my arm is bleeding again and so is my stomach. Aviana sees this and runs out all the while calling for a healer. Not 30 seconds later, she reappears with a doctor and two healers following.

I start shaking violently as though I caught hypothermia. The healers hold me down while some medicine is shot into my arm. Next thing I know, everything is black.